Delicate Things

[Alistair]

There were only three people in this world that Alistair would die for. Two of them he would be spending his evening with. His wife by his mind; whom soon would be his wife in her laws as well; and his sister. Maeve and Alistair had only crossed paths a few times in their lives but the first he had saved her life and the later, she had saved his. Her kindness and the way she opened her self up to everyone with out fear of being hurt and caused his to feel very protective of her.

The last person on that list was a man named Vaughn. Vaughn and Alistair's relationship was a series of highs and lows. While Vaughn had been in his the longest, and most often until late; their friendship had not progressed to anything stronger until recent months. When an old 'friend' of their past had threatened to expose Alistair as a druid and not a knight, Vaughn had helped Alistair out. Helped him out and then saved his life by taking an arrow meant for Alistair. It had proven to Alistair that Vaughn was not as heartless as he played to be, and that their bond was stronger then the other man let on. It was why he had embarrassed the request Vaughn had made of him rather then letting Vaughn drink the poison that Alistair had planned to kill him with.

Alistair had send a 'messenger' (one of a more magical nature) to a place where he knew Maeve would be or would pass by, to request that she come back for a visit. This morning, he received a reply that said she would come tonight. Alistair walked down the hall toward were he would meet Isadora and await their guest. He felt oddly nervous but did not let it show; making sure to keep his face blank and unreadable. Now days he often found more people watching him; and he knew that one mistake could expose them all. And now he had too much to loose. "Princess," He greeted her when he found her. He would have done or said more but her servants where often everywhere.

[isadora]

Isadora was in the dining room, overseeing the preparations the servants were making for the dinner tonight. She was excited to see the Faery queen again, and she wanted to make sure everything went perfectly. It was all on very short notice, since they'd only received word of her visit this morning, but Isadora was satisfied with what they'd been able to pull together. Checking over the work that the servants had done, Isadora leaned over the table to refold one of the napkins, smoothing out the crease. Once she was satisfied, she straightened up, and smiled when she saw that Alistair had arrived.

"Good evening, Sir Alistair," she greeted him warmly. She had been glad when he'd suggested they invite Maeve for a visit; it had been too long since she'd seen the other woman, and she agreed that they ought to tell her their happy news before it became common knowledge; they owed her at least that much. Isadora wasn't worried that Maeve might tell anyone, she had kept the secret of their relationship this long, she doubted she would decide now was the time to betray them, when they were going to be wed so soon.

So far, the only other person who knew about their plans to marry was her father, although with his mind slipping she wasn't really sure he understood...or even knew who she was. She was still having trouble dealing with his condition, but for the moment, she preferred to enjoy the evening rather than dwelling on things beyond her control. Tomorrow she'd announce their engagement to the kingdom, and after that she'd just have to plan the wedding. She wanted to keep the ceremony as small as she could, although being royalty didn't exactly lend itself to quiet marriages. She'd just have to work it out.

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[Maeve]

Maeve was tremendously excited about tonight! Much to her surprise, yet utmost delight, she had received a message from Alistair, inviting her to the royal household of Gwent to join he and Isadora for dinner. It was a wonderful invitation and one that Maeve accepted without a moment's hesitation. There was also something else in that message that had been a bit surprising, though the faery queen did not question it. She merely complied, bringing what Alistair had requested, though wondered why after all this time, he would need such a thing. This inquiry would not be the first thing she asked, for she was far too excited to see two dear friends after such a long passage of time. Their paths did not often cross... not as much as Maeve would have liked. Especially with him having found a stable home and moving around a lot less. She was so very happy for him, for Isadora... for them both! She had entered the city only an hour or so prior to the time they had set to meet. It was just enough time for Maeve to prepare.

She rented a room at the inn, having brought a dress for this very occasion. She changed into lilac garment, one that was form fitting and flowed behind her, creating a bit of a trailing tail as she walked. It had silver intricate work around the neck and waist area. The sleeves perfectly fit her up her arms, all the way to her wrists until it flowed down as well, creating an long extension of the sleeves. Her hair was styled being straight at the top and large ringlet curls at the bottom with her bangs to the side. She wore not a crown, but rather a small band with thin and fine silver chains connecting the few small diamonds and amethysts that were on it. She wore the necklace that she always did, which was the source of her energy and power when outside Mabon; it was her physical connection to her home. Maeve rarely dressed like this outside of her realm; in fact, it had been many, many years since. But today, she looked like a foreign queen of a foreign realm for all she wore was native to Mabon. Once she was ready she stepped outside where Haldir was already waiting for her.

She would have insisted he come, but knew better. Even if he did not wish to join them at the dinner, he did not enjoy being solely in the company of so many humans. It was after all why he pretended not to speak English most of the time. He had conversed with very few, Alistair being one of them. And though Haldir was not particularly fond of many, Maeve knew that he was slowly adjusting to Alistair's presence, even speaking to him a few times... for he had come to accept that Alistair would forever be a part of Maeve's life. He passed her the pouch which entailed not only what Alistair had requested, but individual gifts for both her gracious hosts. Ier lle mesi lle shor il tysti? She asked as they began to make their way to the castle. She just wanted to be certain that Haldir had not changed his mind. Aelai os coiasira eller ar' amin shor shi sharol ten' lle iire lle ierp thorolaer. Maeve softly smiled, unsurprised by his consistent decision. Once they arrived at the courtyard he watched her enter as one of the guards approached her, before moving out of sight, yet not straying too far in case his duties called upon him.

The guard seemed to know who she was, though she explained just in case. He nodded and said that he follow her, to where she was to be expected. Maeve walked behind him, this not having been the first time in the castle of Caerleon, but its beauty never ceased to amaze her. She silently followed until they reached a room which one of the guards was standing in front of. He pulled the doors open and that was when Maeve rested her eyes on Alistair and Isadora. She brightly smiled immediately upon seeing them and gracefully walked towards the couple. Once she was closer, now standing in front of them, she spoke. My dear friends, she greeted as she lowered herself into a deep and elegant curtsy, nearly going to her knees. It was after all the respectful and appropriate greeting. She remained in that position for a few moments before she raised herself and her eyes met theirs once more, looking between the two. I can not fully express how wonderful it is to see you both! She made no attempt to conceal how happy she was to be in their company once again.

[Alistair]

Alistair stood there for a few long moments just watching her as she flitted with some scrap of cloth. He liked watching her and there was rare times when he could do so unguarded as this. He still found himself wondering at times; why him. She had everything a girl could want. A castle; knights; money; power; a respect name. He was an outlaw druid with no bloodlines; and a rather large price on his shaggy head. Why risk it for him?

Not that he would let her change her mind now.

After Maeve was shown to the room the Princess dismissed everyone else in there; leaving the three of them alone. Alistair found the edge of his lips tilt slightly at the idea of being able to tell Maeve (one of the few people on this earth who would understand what it meant to him) about the child. His princess understood; and Vaughn would understand in a way. No one else could fully understand what the idea of a child would mean to a man who had lost everyone in his life.

Maeve bowed and Alistair walked a few steps over so when she stood he was there. "You bow to no one here, Rani Phei." He told her, hating the customs of bows even more when his friend did it to him. He knew it was a sign of respect to her; but to a druid it was a sign of something else. He would play by the rules when others were around; but when they were alone he wanted no signs of anyone being above another. "Devlesa avilan. Sar'shan?"

He lead Maeve over to where Isadora was, He reached out to take her hand to pull her into his side softly. Not in a possessive way, but in a subtle sign that they were united. To Maeve it would show that they were together rather the pretending to be apart. And while he knew they had met before; this was the first time his two favorite people in the world had come together with him. So he would do this their way:

"Princess," He made her title a name, "This is Queen Maeve of Mabon. My sister." No by blood but after spending months injured and her tending him; it was hard not to feel protective over the girl who's heart was so open that he worried it would get her killed. "Ti to alav Princess Isadora de Carleon of Gwent vi mandi's Monisha." It was a formal introduction to them both in languages they each would understand. It did not fail on him to miss that the druid had a queen on one side of him and a princess on the other.

[isadora]

Isadora turned towards the door when the faery queen's presence was announced, a slight smile on her lips, before she looked past Maeve to the servant still hovering by the door, giving only a few words to dismiss him and the rest of the staff. This wasn't an event that required spectators, least of all ones who would be sure to gossip and spread word all over the kingdom. She was surprised when Maeve dropped into a curtsey before the pair of them, she was used to being bowed to, but not in the company of Alistair's friends or people. And not by other members of royalty, as she now knew Maeve was. She was therefore glad when her husband-to-be stepped forward.

It took her a moment to process the unfamiliar words; Alistair had been teaching her his language, slowly, but she was still having trouble remembering it all. She wanted to be able to speak to their child in his language, as well as her own. 'Lady sister,' he called her, she was able to piece that much together. The rest were common greetings he'd already taught her, so she was able to keep up with that, she was pleased to know. Her smile widened when Alistair pulled her to him, and once he had she used their entwined fingers to lift his arm over her head and around her shoulders.

She pressed her fingers to her lips to hold in a slight giggle when Alistair introduced them, so formally, and again, she was glad she could understand what he was saying when he spoke in the Druid's language. "Droboy tume, Rani Bori." She added when he was finished, in response to Maeve's earlier statement. She wasn't sure she was saying the words correctly, and she glanced up at Alistair briefly to see if his expression would reveal anything about whether or not she had succeeded in pronouncing the strange words.

But she didn't dwell long on her success or failure, before she was pulling out of Alistair's hold, stepping forward to wrap her arm's around the other woman in a warm embrace. Isadora didn't have many people who she could trust beyond a doubt, and Maeve was one of them. She had been there to listen when she hardly even knew her, and more importantly, she had saved Alistair's life, her rom, and she would be eternally grateful to her for that. "I've missed you, Maeve." Those were words she didn't yet know how to say in Druid, but she didn't think she really needed to.

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